Stopped by on a recommendation from a friend/co-worker in KC. I do love a good dive bar, and I can say if I lived nearby I'd likely be a regular here. It's small, dingy and laid back, complete with a gross bathroom, lots of dartboards, a small TV, plenty of Elvis swag and a chill-and-prompt bartender. And, for whatever reason, it's a bit rock-n-roll and a bit skate-punk. Kind of like me! Probably should've tagged some nonsense in the bathroom. Next time! read more

Note: it should be Chez Charlie (no apostrophe S), but I have a strong feeling that Charlie doesn't give a f*ck about proper French. So: You've got triple D: dark, divey, dicey, You've got cheap, strong drinks. You've got a pretty mixed crowd (hipsters mix with old men who tell stories mix with ladies who wear white sweatshirts and sneakers and dance... note: there is of course no dance floor). You've got lots of random trophies and plaques all over the room. You've got wood paneling and vinyl banquets/barstools. You've got darts. You've got... *that smell* You've got yourself a dive bar. This is for real. read more

I"ve only been once (so far), but Chez Charlie definitely seems like a divey Cheers sort of place, in the best way possible. The pregnant bartender was as sweet as they come, managing the regulars sitting at the bar and the dart players with easy grace. If you don't play darts, well, watch where you stand. They're old-school, sharp-pointed darts, and on the Thursday night I was there, nearly every board was in use. Leagues started at 7:30 that night, but before that, you could play your heart out for free, using their darts. I was with four other girls who hadn't played darts in decades, but the regulars gave us a few pointers. It hides in plain sight behind a "Cocktails" sign next door to the Blarney Stone. Once you find it, cheap beers ($4 Boulevard bottles), lots of darts, and the coolest jukebox repertoire I've ever seen await you inside-everything from some modern stuff to Duke Ellington. It's totally laid-back, and even if you're brand new, everybody seems to treat you like a friend. Can't wait to go back, but watch out, my aim's not always good. P.S. A word of warning, don't park in Big Dude's lot, word is they tow, even after hours! read more

Chez Charlie - Awesomely offbeat jukebox menu - Dive Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

It has been on my radar for a while. I finally pulled the trigger last Thursday night., or at Chez Charlie's- dart night. Nerds, old farts and women with road map faces all getting down on the dart games. At the bar, a younger crowd pop's the top on cans of PBR. The bartender addresses the incoming customers by name and everyone seems to know each other. You might wonder why I am a fan. I might still be wondering too. It was raw, strangely charming and refreshingly unpretentious. There is a special vibe here. Dark, old and sketchy, it is all dive bar and all good. read more

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Great bar! Great music! Awesome drinks! Killer atmosphere! Darts! The bar tender was really nice too!!

I went over 25 years in between visits and it is still a dirty, cramped dive bar. Ya gotta love continuity! I used to shoot darts and my home bar visited here regularly for tournaments back in the day. The darts are still integral to the fabric of Chez Charlie and the bartender has changed but not truly in character. There's so many places that wish they could be as naturally unassuming and romantically un-modern. I expect it to be doing more of the same in another 20+ years. read more

Chez Charlie - Mens room. Last cleaned during the Nixon administration. - Dive Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I can't stay away from this place. It's a happy dive bar that is very focused on darts, but they also often have dj's playing incredible 50's music. Their jukebox is slanted that direction as well. My drink taste runs with their $2 Hamms and PBR, but they've got some great scotch on hand like Laphroaig. No beers on tap though, don't ask. I like the dartboard in the front best by the bookcase with all the playboys stacked up. Give this place a try on a weeknight! read more

Chez Charlie - Not the worst round ever! - Dive Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Chez Charlie is a pretty simple place and can be explained by asking two questions. What do you want to drink and how cold do you want it? The room is small and a little plain, but does have enough room for a dart board and good amount of tables. The crowd is about half and half with regulars and bue collar neighborhood folks. They're friendly, but also can tend to keep to themselves. The bar tenders have been around for a bit and know how to pour a nice strong drink. If you're in the neighborhood feel free to pull up a chair to the bar. There is a small parking lot in the back because parking on Broadway can sometimes be a little tough. read more

Best dive bar in KC! The dart boards are always free and never have to wait long to get a board. Great environment, cheap drinks. The atmosphere here is always a fun and laid back. The bartender is always prompt and friendly. Will highly recommend to anyone who visits kc looking for a enjoyable dive bar exper read more

A friend once said, "I couldn't find it...there's no sign out front..." Whether there is, or not, is inconsequential. A bar like this doesn't need a sign to be a beacon. And a beacon doesn't need to be bright and shining; sometimes it's better to be a glowing presence in other ways, better to attract the barflies and beer-buddies with the promise to be sheltered, rather than out in the open... And isn't that why you want to "escape" to a bar like this, anyway? It's not to "be seen". I remember places like this from the outside, down on San Pablo Blvd in the East Bay, growing up. I did, and still do, call them "Old Man Bars"; the places where only the pros went, the working men and women, the ones who maybe only had the scratch for a pour and not much more...but someone would hopefully buy the next round. I love meeting my pals here. We start our irregular "Guy's Nights Out" here. I've heard confessions and observations and shared stories about life, good and bad, here. Talked music, art, religion, politics, and women there, on the barstools and big tuck-and-roll benches. It's the kind of place where you want to add your voice to the air, and tack your story up on the wall like the yellowed newspaper and dart-tourney plaques that make up the history of the place. You want to be the history of the place. Or, you just want a drink. Need a drink, maybe, be it Hamm's or a Highball, you're in good hands, and within earshot of someone who's willing to raise a toast to you, that girl, the ballgame, or whatever ancient weeper is on the incredible (and real) juekbox. Oh, and sometimes you can get a hotdog. Or a bag of chips. And smoke on the patio out back, listening to the sounds of Midtown in all it's tragic, storied glory. If you find charm in that, you'll find charm in Chez Charlie's. If not, you'll never see it there, anyway... read more

There is a certain majestic quality that this local bar produces. I don't know if it the 60's feel emitted by the decor or the friendly bartenders that are genuine people trying to make a living. The place isn't massive and you can always count on a good game of darts and excellent music. I like the Tuesday night scene because they have a great DJ playing both kinds of music, Country and Western. That's a joke btw The beer is always ice cold and the mixed drinks are a little heavier here than other places. The location is tough because there is limited parking in the lot and on the street though you can park in the Walgreen's parking lot. There is an excessive amount of hipsters here some nights but everyone is very nice and always makes you feel welcome. Cheers to Chez Charlie's! read more

I'm not gonna lie, I don't spend a lot of time at dive bars. I must confess, I'm a bit snooty in my drinking tastes. But I can recognize when I'm in a great place, and for a dive,Chez Charlie is top notch. Cheap drinks - check friendly barstaff - check bar games - check (they have multiple dart boards, AND a Megatouch! clean bathrooms - check! (the men's room is covered in nudie pics I might add) friendly crowd - check So yeah, if you want a no-nonsense beer, this is a perfectly fine place in which to enjoy one. read more

Fun dive with lots of free dart boards. They have free hot dogs on Friday's or Saturday's.. cannot remember. Definitely met a cool lady at the bar and took her home. Good luck! :p read more

This is our go-to dive bar whenever we're downtown and looking to throw darts and knock a few back. It's not fancy, but it doesn't try to fit a dive bar genre either. It just is what it is. The staff here are laid back and super cool. We usually pair a stop here with some event downtown, so we might walk into the place a little overdressed, but they always make us feel welcome and not like a contingent of interlopers (like another dive bar I could name). We usually drop in on Saturday afternoons, but we went one Friday night and they had a DJ spinning some relatively obscure 45s (good stuff, none of which I had ever heard) on a turn-table. The jukebox selection feels a lot like this; artists you know, but generally more of their lesser-known works. This may change frequently, but at least it was this way the last few times I've been there. There are almost always credits sitting around, so the patrons can walk up and pick out a few songs. I wanted to add that we found this place originally when we were looking for some nondescript bars where we could throw steel tipped darts, with real dart boards and not those blasted plastic-tip-breaking cacophonous-beeping noise machines that you have to shove an undetermined number of quarters into. We found this place, and haven't looked back! Five stars. read more

My boyfriend and I are regulars here, and Chez Charlie never disappoints. If you're looking for a PnL-type spot, this ain't it, and that's what makes it so amazing. Cheap drinks, great DJ, awesome staff. Not sure what more you could ask for. Please support local businesses like this one! read more

Best dive bar in KC. Friday nights can get pretty busy, but between the cheap booze, smoking patio, and really diverse cast of characters young and old you might run into here, you're hard-pressed to find a better place for a nightcap or to sit down and have a conversation with someone, whether you know them or not. Bring cash. Be ready to order. Don't order complicated stuff. Beer and booze, no martinis or "mocktails." Do NOT park in the Big Dude's lot next door. You'll be towed. read more

Absolute shit-hole dive complete with douchebag patrons and a collage of naked centerfolds adorning the mens room walls. Dirt cheap drinks served in a dirty glass and the perfect place to go if you want to slum it or go incognito. LOVE IT! read more

I love this dive. $10 minimum on credit cards and if you order anything but whiskey or beer, you'll get a little scoff from the bartender. Hipster heavy. Kind of nasty on the inside. But everyone there is sweet , drinks are tasty and the jukebox rules. read more

Do not be frightened by the hole-in-the-wall look. This place is down to earth and has cheap drinks. Just don't be an idiot and treat the bartenders with respect. If you don't, they have no probably letting you know they think you're not being cool. read more

Possibly my favorite dive bar in KC. The cheap drinks, the darts and of course the playboy covers in the Men's bathroom. There are also djs who spin old-school hits! The trick is finding the place. There is only a generic sign that reads "cocktails" on the outside. read more

It's been over three years since I first found Chez Charlie's and gave it a four star review. Since that time, I have been there at all times of day with all types of crowds and it still remains one of my favorite places to have a drink in Kansas City. I have hung with the hipsters, the day drinkers, the after workers and the early birders. I have heard the DJ's, played the dart boards and read the Playboys. I have drank, talked and laughed in this dark and unassuming bar. So here's an upgrade to five long overdue stars Chez Charlie's because, as I said in 2010, if you like a little dive in your bars, it's a place you shouldn't miss. read more

Ambiance: *Good divey place in at the end of the street of bars. *Chill place to take it easy and play darts. Food: *tba read more

There is a fine line in the world of dive bars. You can have the cool punk rock, fixie, record collector, underground crowd or the low life and homeless crowd (yes there is a 3rd type, but I'll save that for later). The cool kids (not the rap duo unfortunately) of Buzzard Beach evacuated to Chez Charlie's and you can guess where Buzzard went. I went to Charlie's on a warm Saturday night with a few friends and the reviews are right - it didn't dissapoint: old soul 7" being spun by a DJ, free darts, cheap beer, and a relaxed crowd, what more do you need? read more

My friend came in from out of town and wanted to go to a "cool, dim, classy, cheesy dive bar" so I took her here. They have 4 dart boards to play but they also have nightly dart tournaments so I'd call ahead. Alcohol is cheap and good. Good selection. Not good for large groups because there are a TON of chairs and tables crammed into that space. I wouldn't bring a date here. Want to throw some darts at 1am? This is the place. Want a cheap drink while you people watch? Yep, this is it. read more

I like drinking fancy pants beer as much as the next guy who tries to pretend to know about beer, not just get drunk.Though I will always hold every beer I drink to the high standards of Budweiser. This is only natural for someone from MO, isn't it? For this reason, I will always love a good bar that serves cheap domestic beer, and isn't trying to be in any way hip or cool while doing so. This bar really deserves the dive bar label. They were at one point a swanky bar for the people who were in the know. Most of the people who "knew" have been dead for a while, but Chez Charlies still shows glimpses of its once regal traditions. This is important to note, because I feel there is a definite sense of history that a bar needs in order for me to want to give it the "Dive" label. I don't want a five year old bar that hasn't been taken care of, I want a thirty year old bar that hasn't been taken care of, in order to carry the moniker of "Dive". Unlike other bars in the area, this place has retained its history, and can appear a little run down as a result. But the beauty, and history behind the dirt, and torn vinyl, cannot be denied. The place was, is and always will be known for darts. I am a danger to anyone near me when I throw darts, and for this reason I just watch, and in the process keep all of my surrounding companions safe. That's not to say that I don't offer up a plethora of advice and chiding remarks. It's easy to be condescending when you're not partaking in the activity that you are being so critical of. I don't go here often, my friends used to, but I'm not sure they do anymore. This place is tiny, but a lot of fun. It would be easy to turn this into your "go to" bar for like six months, then never go back. But really isn't that what Yelp is all about, finding fresh, different, new, sometimes clean establishments? read more

A solid Kansas City dive bar that flies under the radar. I'm a KC native, but haven't moved back since I left for college. I spent New Years in here this year and had a blast. The crowd was eclectic, the prices were great, and the bartenders looked like they were having fun too! Westport can be a good time, but I'd prefer to cap every night at this place. Chez Charlie is real, not trying to be anything else, and that feeling is refreshing. read more

My girlfriends and I stopped by here a couple of months ago on my birthday. We walked in (we always go out early) and were the only ones there. The bartender was pulling out pages from Playboy. He said he was "redecorating" the men's room. I found this rather entertaining. And yes he does scoff at you if you ask what the specials are or if you order anything mixed or light beer (which I did not). Still I've always liked this place. I wish I could be a regular here myself but alas my husband does not drink so I don't frequent bars as much as I used to. read more

Depressing old men by day, hipsters by night. Beer in cans. The jukebox sounds like AM radio. Centerfolds in the Mensroom. Lots of dartboards. Crockpot of chili during happy hour. Excellent atmosphere, somewhere between a film noir cocktail lounge and a crumbling VFW hall. read more

Stopped in for a couple drinks and to play some darts. This place is an absolute gem of a dive bar with an awesomely random jukebox. Owner/bartender is super nice and funny... which is always a plus. Would definitely return if I found myself back in KC. read more

THE dive bar. Great atmosphere.. whether it's packed & jumpin' with an eclectic DJ spinnin' soul, pop & more on the weekends or if it's chill & quiet on a weeknight. The bartenders know what they're doing & they've got all the yard beers you're ever gonna need. It's a great place to make friends with perfect strangers or meet up with old friends. People seem to mix & mingle here effortlessly. read more

With its well-worn interior, friendly neighborhood clientele, and jukebox full of 45s (yes, they still exist!), Chez Charlie is a fine choice for dive bar enthusiasts such as myself. As an out-of-town visitor, I ended up at Chez Charlie's upon the recommendation of a local bartender in the touristy part of downtown Kansas City. I asked her if she could give me the name of a local dive bar with character, and Chez Charlie did not disappoint. The hotel shuttle driver who drove me there had never heard of it. This is not surprising since the establishment is identifiable only by a vertical sign affixed to the front that says "COCKTAILS." Beer by the bottle or can and a wide selection of hard liquor comprise the offerings, so I ordered a can of PBR. Veteran bartender Mark will tend to your needs with a calm demeanor and little fuss. Square footage is sparse, but the seating is efficiently arranged to accommodate a large booth, a collection of small tables, a curved bar that seats about 10, and two old-school cork dartboards. The small covered patio out back allows smoking and was perfect for drinking on a warm evening in late June. By the end of my too-short evening there I knew 4 or 5 of the regulars by name, one of whom bought me a couple of rounds, and another who gave me ride back to my hotel. Maybe it was just Kansas City hospitality, or maybe Chez Charlie is just that special. read more

Chez Charlie - A warm Wednesday in June at Chez Charlie in Kansas City, MO - Dive Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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This is a great dive bar, and it's that and nothing more. Expect cold beer, expect solid bartenders that don't take no mess, expect old drunks, expect an old juke for tunes, and expect dirty bathrooms with porn mags for wallpaper. I'm sold. read more

It's a lil bitty old hole in the wall place where many of the same people hang out. The drink costs are cheaper than most places. I run through there occasionally but I've never left there without having a lot of fun! It's a good time. read more